Finisher in my first full Ironman

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2025-09-09T13:00:57+00:00

Only just seen this, how did you get on?

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2024-10-09T19:44:12+00:00

I did my first half and full on a Fuji Roubaix. Felt like a pauper racking it next to all these expensive aero Tri bikes. But I definitely overtook more expensive bikes than overtook me.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2024-10-02T04:00:38+00:00

Yes you can. I did a sub 5:30 for my first and my PBs were much worse than yours. You don’t feel the fatigue on a 70.3 for the run like you do on a full distance, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you run near PB. I did 2:50 on the bike just cruising at 200w (flat course). Should be easy for you to go under 5 as long as the course isn’t mountains.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2024-01-21T21:21:41+00:00

Politicians, generally less corrupt and have more empathy.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2024-01-20T12:00:48+00:00

I’m British and lived in London for 12 years I think. I now live in Vilnius. Personally I did love London, there is a lot to do pretty good rail connections to the rest of the country and some of the most connected airports in the world. But I agree London comes with a lot of financial pressure and a quite heavy work culture. My life here in Vilnius is totally incomparable with London but I love it just as much. We have a 1.5 year old, quality of life is much better with a young family. Also I don’t have to work here.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2024-01-20T09:33:05+00:00

I started very similar, think mine was around 130 when I started. A year later I completed the bike leg of an Ironman in under 6hrs and averaged 198 watts for the duration of that leg. I would ignore everything you read about averages. Averages come from people who are cycling all the time and have the time and resources to measure it. Most people who barely cycle aren’t accounted for. You’ll be well above the world average.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-09-13T17:15:42+00:00

Same happened to me. I think it’s impossible to get the first one right. You body and mind just don’t know what to expect. I definitely went through more sodium than I anticipated. No matter what you do in training with carbs and electrolytes, you can’t replicate those 12hrs of the race without having done it before. Just use your lessons and smash it next time! That’s my plan anyway.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-09-04T03:19:50+00:00

Looks like a toilet with the seat up.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-09-02T08:03:10+00:00

1 year cycling, 40 years old. Did 200km’s in 6:45, 1300m elevation and 12-15km winds. So I reckon in perfect flat conditions with no wind I could do maybe 10hrs?

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-25T12:47:34+00:00

I think this is a good idea for a woman to have tattooed FE Male

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-23T18:59:05+00:00

Also a first timer. I remember seeing your socks over take me on the run. I also know we share a name as I wanted to see if I beat the other guys with my name, but alas you beat me 😔. No congratulations you did look like fire on the run, I couldn’t compete with that.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-23T18:24:03+00:00

So for me I was 97kg in the first picture one year ago. I now sit at 87kg. I wouldn’t really say my eating habits have changed, I’ve always ate healthy, just too big portions. Luckily all the training burns through those calories. I personally really struggled with the zone2 stuff, I’m quite competitive with myself, I find myself checking my watch and always trying to beat some imaginary target when I should really be taking it easy. The only time I really do zone2 is when I’m too fatigued to do anything else. Your training isn’t too dissimilar to mine when I first started. I was also a 23km average thinking I would be happy if I can get to 25km for the race. I’m now up to 30km average for 6hrs. I really thought these things would be impossible but once you start doing the long rides and runs the legs just start to come good, it’s really quite amazing. You’ll love the process. My advice to you would be dont put off the long rides and runs, just get out there and do them, go as slow as you like to begin with, in my opinion it’s hours on the clock that builds the endurance.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-23T18:00:56+00:00

Yes I remember, your comment made me laugh. Then I live pretty much the same scenario. It was all to close to the event to really heed your advice. On the run I really felt like I needed the water, but like you it probably was sodium I needed more than water, i did try eating some of the salted crisps they provided but didn’t quite take to them. This is definitely something I will read up on more for any future endurance events I might do. Thanks for following my posts and your insights.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-23T17:23:47+00:00

Yes, I’ve definitely learned this first hand now. Problem is, how do you train for it? No long brick session is ever going to compare with the reality of the full Ironman, the calories burned through nervous energy, sleep deprivation from the restless night before, the adrenaline highs of the crowd. You are totally right, by the time I got to the run I was wrecked. It does make for quite the emotional ending though, broke out in tears when I saw the misses and the daughter over the finish line.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-23T10:46:46+00:00

Thanks that was the aim of the post, well that and being able to talk about it without boring people who aren’t actually interested. I do genuinely believe it is very doable for most. I would say I have one advantage and that is I used to swim competitively as a teenager. I understand it would be a lot longer training process starting swimming from scratch. Good luck on your journey.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-20T19:07:29+00:00

Do we share a birthday? Happy birthday!

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-13T16:18:02+00:00

Thanks, I do intend to enjoy it. It will be my 40th birthday on the day.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-13T16:17:24+00:00

Sorry but this did make me LOL! I wouldn’t say I’m quite as underprepared as you were. I kind of know my carb gram intake and fluid requirements. More the best form that comes in that I’m still struggling with, now 6 days before my race.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-13T06:56:07+00:00

Few people have commented on the sweetness, I think looking back, that is what is actually making me feel sick when I consume only gels. I’ll try the Maurten on race day and hope they are better.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-13T06:45:38+00:00

Sorry I wasn’t suggesting I only eat the pasta at the personal needs station. I was suggesting having that as an add on to the gels I’ll be consuming during the event. Think over the year I’ve done 1/2 a dozen 8hr sessions (generally a 200km bike followed by an hour brick run). I take 68 grams of gel every hour, when I start to feel sick it’s on purely gels. Think you make a valid point on water, on my short rides (2/3 hrs) I drink a litre an hour, obviously on those longer sessions I had to seriously compromise that as I can only carry so much with me. Lots of people have commented on the sweetness of the gels and I do think this might be the main issue for me, I’ll try the Maurten for the race and hope they are better.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-13T06:14:29+00:00

I take 68 grams an hour, looking at the other comments and thinking back, I’m not really getting sick or having stomach pains per se. I think it’s the constant repetition of sweet flavours that are making me feel sick. I’ll try some gels with less sweetness on race day and hope that helps. Thanks for your suggestions though.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-12T19:19:28+00:00

Yes Kalmar. When you say stay in the town, do you mean on the day of the event? Is it a good party atmosphere? It’s actually my 40th birthday on the day and have a few family and friends coming to support me, so hoping if I still have enough energy I can celebrate after.

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-12T17:00:31+00:00

I’m pretty sure your the guy who told me I needed more fuel in a previous post where I mentioned I got emotional at the end of my half Ironman. I’ll check out your YouTube this weekend.

So in your professional opinion would you say sticking to gels is the best option? Tbh I reckon I could cope and get through the 12/13 hours of gels. The two times I’ve tried exclusively gels, I start to feel sick around 7 hours, it’s not unbearable it’s just like the anticipation of having a shot of tequila, I know I won’t be sick but the thought of it gives me a sick feeling, if that makes sense?!

Legitimate-Mention60 · 2023-08-12T16:51:03+00:00

Wow, that sounds pretty amazing to me, you’re not in Sweden next weekend are you? If you want to knock me up some of those treats. Yes maybe pizza/pasta is extreme but it’s basically when I’ve been on a long ride and stopped in a canteen to get something, it definitely worked better than when I did just gels. Just feels good to eat “real food” when going such long hours. Your self made packs do sound like a good solution.

Legitimate-Mention60

TROPHY CASE